Indonesia -Timor Leste further intensify bilateral cooperation

Jakarta (Antaranews Babel) - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with her counterpart from Timor Leste Aurelio Sergio Guterres on Wednesday in Jakarta, and both agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Minister Guterres, who is on a work visit to Indonesia from Jan 30 to Feb 1, was received by Minister Marsudi at the Pancasila Building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, as two close neighbors. There is no other option than to look forward and foster a good relationship," Minister Marsudi stated on Wednesday.

Several issues, such as border negotiations, connectivity, infrastructure development in the border area, technical cooperation, education and training cooperation, were highlighted during the bilateral meeting.

In the field of border security, both ministers agreed to accelerate negotiations on unresolved segments in the two border areas of Bijael Sunan-Oben and Noel Besi-Citrana.

"We agreed to intensify communication and negotiations on the two unresolved segments," Minister Marsudi emphasized.

Besides negotiation on land border settlement, both countries have also agreed to start negotiations on the maritime border in the northern area of Timor Leste.

In the field of connectivity, both governments have agreed to build a road and bridge in Motaain, at the border of East Nusa Tenggara and Timor Leste, to ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries.

The construction of the bridge is expected to begin in March once the document is approved by the Government of Timor Leste.

Moreover, Indonesian state-owned public transit bus company DAMRI has planned to start a bus service from Kupang to Dili.

In the economic field, Indonesia is the largest trade partner of Timor Leste.

Statistics indicate that bilateral trade between Indonesia and Timor Leste had been increasing since 2015-2016.

In 2015, the value of trade between both countries was recorded at US$217 million, with Indonesia enjoying a surplus of $215.95 million.

This value increased in 2016 to $227.41 million, with Indonesia having a surplus of $224.42 million.

During the meeting with Minister Marsudi, Minister Guterres expected more Indonesian investors to invest in Timor Leste, especially in its salt processing industry, which has not been managed optimally.

Timor Leste is also keen to attract more investment in its public housing sector.

Indonesia is also committed to supporting development in Timor Leste through several capacity building programs, various scholarships, and student exchanges.

"We will continue what has been discussed. The main aim is how we can continue to establish cooperation between the two countries, with the most important being between the two societies," Minister Guterres remarked.

Diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste were established on July 2, 2002.

The frequency of the meetings between the two foreign ministers demonstrates the close relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Today's meeting was the third time for Minister Marsudi and Minister Guterres since the Timor Leste foreign minister took office in September 2017.